In an effort to comprehensively address the needs of clients and their families, CREW will be transitioning to a collaborative case management system known as ServicePoint.  ServicePoint is the leading web-based human services software.  The system allows users to:

• Collect and share client data
• Manage community resources
• Organize real-time shelter information
• Create advanced data sharing rules
• Create individualized reports

CREW, in collaboration with several other social service agencies and Lake County’s Community Development Division, is a part of a countywide effort to implement this system.  In 2008, the county hired a full-time system administrator for ServicePoint.  The System Administrator has been able to:

• Implement the coordinated case management
• Organizations are now sharing data about clients and coordinate care to ensure the clients receive the best services.

• Link the case management to the information and referral system
• As FindHelpLakeCounty.org and ServicePoint were built on the same architecture, merging the systems just made sense.  Now, case managers can provide intake and referral services directly in the case management system.

• Expand the use of ServicePoint beyond the homeless service sector
• There are now numerous programs that are using ServicePoint that have little to nothing to do with homelessness.  They coordinate their services within the system.  The more groups that participate, the better.

The ultimate goal of the system is to have as many human/social service providers as possible contributing to the system.  Not only will this ensure a greater, more coordinated provision of care, but it will provide better data about need as well.